Rajadharma () is the Sanskrit term for the Dharma of the Raja or emperor. The concept of the rajadharma is extensively discussed in the genre of Hindu texts called the Dharmashastras.
The primary duty of a monarch was regarded to be the protection of his subjects, a role that included providing a sense of security for them by punishing criminals such as thieves and other wrongdoers, as well as defending the kingdom or empire from invaders.
It also included the maintenance of the social order, regarded to be necessary for the moral order.
According to the Ramayana, the right to rule of kings and their divine status went hand-in-hand with the performance of their rajadharma.
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